Reclining Woman

Emanuel Leutze

1854

graphite

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century

About this work

The painting shows a woman lying down, drawn in graphite on paper. She's relaxed, with her eyes closed. This drawing is interesting because it's a simple study of a person, and it doesn't tell a big story - it's just a quiet moment. The artist likely used this drawing to practice and learn. It's a good example of how artists can create interesting work with simple tools. You can learn more about this style by looking at the technique of sfumato.